PRIVITERE QUALIFIES FOR SEMIFINALS AT FILA JUNIOR WORLD GRECO-ROMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NANTES, FRANCE, JULY 4

Joe Privitere (Binghampton, N.Y.) has qualified for the semifinals at 152 pounds, the top U.S. performance at the FILA Junior World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Nantes, France, July 4.

The Junior World Championships feature the best wrestlers in the world ages 17 to 20 years old (born between 1980-1983).

Privitere won three matches to qualify for the semifinals. In his pool competition, he beat Ivan Kron of Switzerland, 3-0 and Yoki Snao of Japan, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, he registered an impressive 8-4 victory over Selahattin Gungor of Turkey. Privitere is the only U.S. wrestler to win his pool competition and qualify for a chance at winning a medal.

Andy Bowlby (Corvallis, Ore./Orange Crush) won two of his three pool matches at 286 pounds. He opened with a loss to Alexander Tchernitchen of Russia, 3-1, but closed with a 5-0 win over Alexandr Geogun of Latvia and a 4-0 victory over Mikalai Haiduk of Belarus.